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Don’t Sleep on This Solid-State Battery Small-Cap
Hello and welcome to the Tech Stock Insider, the twice-weekly newsletter covering the biggest opportunities in the tech world.
Today, we’ll look into the latest tech news, highlight some recent movers, and investigate an under-the-radar tech stock with potential.

Steady Performers (Sponsored)
Every strong portfolio starts with a reliable core — and this new report may help investors build exactly that.
“7 Stocks to Buy and Hold Forever” highlights a group of companies with a track record of steady performance, strong fundamentals, and long-term growth potential.
These stocks were chosen for a reason — and could help lay the groundwork for a strategy built to outlast short-term swings.

AI
AI Arms Race Escalates as Nvidia’s Blackwell Ultra Deploys First with Its Secret Weapon

Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA) just made the next leap in the AI chip race.
CoreWeave, its strategic cloud partner, has become the first to commercially deploy Nvidia’s powerful new Blackwell Ultra processors commercially, beating out larger players like Amazon and Microsoft.
These chips are built to train massive AI models faster, and CoreWeave isn’t wasting time.
Each system rack includes 72 Blackwell Ultra GPUs and 36 Grace CPUs, assembled in the U.S. and liquid-cooled by Dell.
Nvidia says Blackwell can generate 50 percent more AI content than its predecessor.
For companies racing to build and deploy AI tools, that margin matters. This is not a routine upgrade. It is the start of a new hardware cycle.
The early launch also shows Nvidia’s growing influence across the AI infrastructure stack.
It’s not just about making the chips; it’s about placing them where real developers can use them first.
That hands-on access gives Nvidia a critical edge over rivals still waiting for shipment windows.
CoreWeave rents GPU capacity to research labs, model developers, and startups. Now equipped with the latest silicon, it gains a fresh advantage over hyperscalers.
Nvidia’s minority stake in the company strengthens that alignment.

Smartphones
Apple Staged a Surprise Comeback in China’s Cutthroat Market

Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) is finally seeing growth again in China after a two-year slump in iPhone sales.
In the second quarter of 2025, iPhone sales in China increased by 8% year-over-year.
This marks the first positive growth Apple has recorded in the region since the second quarter of 2023.
The turnaround was driven by aggressive discounting and trade-in deals timed to coincide with China's 618 shopping festival, one of the country's biggest online sales events.
Apple lowered prices on its iPhone 16 models and increased trade-in values, helping it regain the attention of local consumers.
This came as competition intensified, with Huawei making a surge back into the market.
Huawei's sales increased by 12% during the same period, placing it at the top of the leaderboard in terms of market share in China.
Apple now ranks third behind Huawei and Vivo. The rivalry has intensified as Chinese smartphone makers introduce new hardware and develop their homegrown chips.
Even with the pressure, Apple remains firmly in the game.
The company's latest sales figures suggest that it can still secure tactical wins in key global markets when timing and pricing are aligned.
Apple's performance in China is being closely watched as it navigates a complex mix of economic, political, and competitive headwinds.
This latest rebound gives the company something it has lacked in China for two years: momentum.

Q2 Stock Picks (Sponsored)
As we dive into Q2 2025, the stock market is buzzing with opportunities, and I’ve got the insider scoop just for you.
I’ve handpicked the Top Seven Stocks for this quarter, offering you a clear roadmap for growth as the year progresses.
Here’s what makes this guide indispensable:
High-Growth Sectors: Key industries poised to boom this summer.
In-Depth Analysis: Simplified insights to make wise investment decisions.
Expert Picks: Data-driven, not just guesses, for reliable potential.
Profit-Boosting Opportunities: Position your portfolio for a strong finish in 2025.
This isn’t merely a list; it’s your chance to seize the market’s hottest opportunities before they pass you by.

Cybersecurity
Cisco’s VPNs Just Became a Hacker Hotspot After 399% Surge in Password Attacks

Cisco (NASDAQ: CSCO) is under fresh scrutiny after a staggering 399% jump in password spray attacks on its ASA VPN systems.
While Microsoft 365 also saw a 21% increase, the spotlight is now firmly on Cisco’s legacy infrastructure as attackers shift tactics away from cloud authentication platforms.
This shift marks a critical warning for enterprises still relying heavily on traditional VPN frameworks.
Unlike brute-force attacks that repeatedly attempt to access a single account with multiple passwords, password spray campaigns test a single common password across multiple usernames, thereby sidestepping account lockouts and alert systems.
Cisco's ASA VPN solutions, despite widespread adoption, often lack the advanced detection and mitigation features that cloud services now deploy as standard.
Healthcare organizations are the primary targets, followed by sectors such as energy, insurance, retail, and education.
The United States is absorbing most of these attacks, but spillover has been observed in Canada, Brazil, and Australia.
For organizations still operating on Cisco’s ASA VPN stack, this is a wake-up call. Weak password policies and partial MFA rollouts leave a wide attack surface exposed.
Security teams are urged to deploy full-scale MFA, enforce stronger password hygiene, and upgrade monitoring systems immediately.

Recent Tech Movers
Olo (NYSE: OLO), a SaaS platform powering digital ordering for over 750 restaurant brands, is set to go private in a $2.0 billion buyout ($10.25 per share) by software investment firm Thoma Bravo.
The deal’s terms represented a 65% premium over pre-announcement pricing, but shares settled at around $10.10, making it a decent merger arb play if you’re willing to wait until the end of 2025 when the deal is expected to close.
Lucid’s (NASDAQ: LCID) Q2 2025 sales hit a record 3,309 vehicles, up 38% year-over-year, thanks to its new Gravity SUV complementing the Air sedan.
While slightly below Wall Street’s hopes, the 50% delivery growth in H1 2025 may be what the EV penny stock needs to regain momentum, with production targets of 20,000 vehicles signaling ambition for the year.
Tripadvisor (NASDAQ: TRIP) may be set for an activist investor turnaround play following Starboard Value’s 9% stake in the travel booking stock.
Known for pushing for cost cuts and leadership changes, Starboard could drive Tripadvisor to streamline its operations or explore strategic options, thereby boosting its appeal in a recovering travel sector.

AI Stocks (Sponsored)
While headlines focus on the same overhyped AI names, a bigger opportunity is taking shape — and it’s flying under the radar.
A new report reveals 9 AI companies with real U.S. operations, accelerating revenue, and deep AI integration. These aren’t speculative plays — they’re positioned to benefit from a massive shift in how and where AI is being built.
This free guide includes:
A chip supplier poised to fuel U.S. AI manufacturing
A cloud provider set to expand under new policy changes
A data firm with potential government contracts on deck
The early window on these opportunities may be closing — now’s the time to see what’s coming next.

Don’t Overlook This Tech Stock
Solid Power (NASDAQ: SLDP) is the solid-state battery innovator with a modest $441 million market cap and a first-mover edge in a high-growth industry, making it poised to disrupt the EV industry (and more).
Founded in 2011, Solid Power develops sulfide-based solid-state batteries, offering higher energy density, better safety, and lower costs than lithium-ion alternatives.
Its tech aligns with the EV market’s needs, and partnerships with Ford, BMW, and SK On validate its potential.
A $50 million U.S. Department of Energy grant and a multi-year SK On deal further bolster plans to scale electrolyte production to 75 metric tons by 2026, with significant sales expected by 2027.
The solid-state battery market is projected to grow at a 36% CAGR, reaching $26 billion by 2034, driven by EV demand. Solid Power’s $300 million liquidity, including $240 million in cash and no debt, funds its roadmap without dilution risks.
Competition from QuantumScape, backed by Volkswagen, and Factorial Energy, tied to Mercedes-Benz, poses risks, as does the industry’s nascent stage, with commercial adoption years away.
At the same time, recent volatility, including a 25% drop after a CEO resignation, highlights uncertainties.
Still, SLDP’s partnerships, liquidity, and 30%+ stock surge since January signal momentum and make the overlooked gem a solid play for long-term solid-state upside.

Everything Else
Amazon’s deadweight, ad-supported streaming app Freevee is set to consolidate under its Prime Video umbrella.
xAI bagged permits to run gas-powered turbines in a bid to expand its Grok supercomputer cluster.
Tech IPOs are running hot, and the trend doesn’t seem to be slowing.
Concessions in the ongoing China trade deal are boosting these tech stocks.
EVs and solar may be taking a hit, but big tech is benefiting from energy credits nonetheless.

That's our coverage for today; thanks for reading! Reply to this email with feedback or any tech stocks you want me to check out.
Best Regards,
—Noah Zelvis
Tech Stock Insider